Nostalgia & History > mundo: Arizona & California RR near the state line, 1992

The late Ed Von Nordeck, Trainorders.com member mundo, visited the Arizona & California Railroad's former Santa Fe lines near the border of its namesake states in 1992.

1)  Most of ARZC's early power was 4-axle EMD.  The shop at Parker, AZ was and still is a good place to find units standing around, such as de-turbocharged GP20 #2005 (built as UP 471, de-turboed by Precision National, last seen as Raritan Central 701) and de-turbocharged GP40 #3802 (built as B&O 3730, reportedly since exported to the Trans-Gabon Railway).  The date was January 9, 1992.

2) Parker was also where ARZC's derrick lived, ex-ATSF 199794.  It was still in Parker on a spur next to the depot last month, the only thing on wheels still wearing the Park-Sierra corporate colors of green and cream.  The date was October 5, 1992.

3) The same day, Ed ventured down the branch to Blythe, CA and found ARZC 3803 (another deturbocharged ex-B&O GP40) and a half dozen covered hoppers ready to head down to the end of track at Ripley, seven miles away.

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4) Arriving at Ripley, believe it or not. 

https://goo.gl/maps/fJMeZfCBd4ViRV2k6

5, 6) The buildings are still there, but the branch to Ripley is gone except for the wye at Rice and a piece of track left on the ground for a stillborn display idea at Blythe.

https://goo.gl/maps/ZFb1LKZku6RCGQyK7

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7) The 3803 back at Blythe with a single tank car.  The Blythe depot to the right was a bizarre combination of a hip-roofed stucco structure with an open waiting area for the office and passenger portion and a metal shed for the freight accommodations.  The depot burned down in 2006.

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,5150718
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,4406662
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,1161104

8,9 ) Up at the junction for the Ripley branch at Rice, Ed caught an eastbound passing a newly installed station sign and Santa Fe's last "depot" at this desolate spot.  The station sign has since been replaced with a smaller signboard on the same post, the tin shed has fallen into further disrepair, and the motive power on the ARZC is now six-axle, GE, and orange.

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,5673896

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OK, more of those common shots at Ripley, counting yours I think we're up to 3. I kick myself for not shooting down there more
especially on the Ripley end. In the end they were going down about once a month to Helena Chemical in Blythe with one or two
cars. So sad considering the volume that used to come out of there on the Santa Fe.

Out 

Great memories, thanks for sharing with us.

Tom

Great photos that Ed made. One of the most appealing paint schemes as well. I’m glad I made a visit there myself
Brian Stevens

Posted from iPhone

Why so much lost business?  Did businesses close down, or another reason??

Very enjoyable series. Only saw the Arizona and Californis one time.

Larry